Monday, January 28, 2013

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

ARLiberator brings Android experience to your vehicle head unit

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 01:07 PM PST

Yesterday we saw an example of HTC creating some hardware to interact with their HTC Butterfly smartphone and earlier this week we reported on the DIAL project to bring easier interactivity between Android devices and smart TVs. Today we have an example of how Android developers, with the help of an Android-friendly manufacturer, are extending the ecosystem in vehicles. Pioneer makes some head units for their vehicle systems that let you control the radio using an app called Pioneer AppRadio2. stackTrase Software has taken that platform and extended it so that your Android device can be mirrored on the vehicle’s head unit using their app called ARLiberator for AppRadio. The mirroring goes beyond showing what is on the smartphone though as you can actually control the smartphone from the head unit’s touchscreen.

The app does require an ample investment of time and money relative to most other apps. ARLiberator will only work on a rooted device, so you will have to accomplish that first. Once rooted, the app can be purchased for $24.99 from the Google Play Store. Once installed and paired to the Pioneer head unit, ARLiberator mirrors your Android smartphone including all apps to the Pioneer touchscreen. In a couple videos showing how the system and app can work together, you can get a good idea of how useful this is beyond playing music through your car audio. Some examples include quick gestures to make phone calls or using Google Maps and Navigation as a GPS solution. If you are parked, you could even check your e-mail or text messages.

Check out the videos below demonstrating ARLiberator for AppRadio and below those you will find links to the app in the Google Play store if you are interested in grabbing it.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Google Play Download Link

Help Me Obama Wan, You’re My Only Hope

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 11:06 AM PST

Yes, it is now illegal for users to unlock mobile phones to use on another network and most of us are not too happy about it. The good thing is the change in legal status, a direct result of the Library Of Congress ruling we told you about in October, will probably not affect too many of us. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) still protects our right to unlock the bootloader but it stripped away our ability to lawfully unlock a cell phone purchased from a carrier even after we’ve fulfilled our contractual obligation.

For example, a phone purchased from AT&T cannot legally be unlocked by the user (or third party) to be used on T-Mobile. The carrier, on the other hand, faces no new restrictions and in many cases will unlock devices of customers in good standing. Phones on Verizon & Sprint are unaffected since they are CDMA networks with handsets that aren’t really locked the same way GSM phones are locked. Purchase an unlocked phone, like the Nexus 4, and this becomes a non-issue.

The reason to be upset about the DMCA is because it extends the power of carriers to an unprecedented level. I signed the petition not because I plan to buy a subsidized phone then take it to a competitor’s network. I signed it because I do not believe the right of the seller should supersede the right of the owner.

The petition is little more than a fifth of the way to the 100,000 signatures required for a White House response. Reaching the signature goal will not automatically fix the DMCA but a White House response may send a message to our representatives inside the beltway: a message that consumer protection is not a thing of the past, a message that giving corporations more control is not in the best interest of their constituents. Obama may not be our only hope, but he is our first step. Hit the petition link below and if you’re feeling especially democratic, find the rest of your representatives here.

Source: White House Petition

Samsung reportedly prepping 7-inch and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3 models

Posted: 26 Jan 2013 06:29 PM PST

A new report suggests Samsung may be prepping a follow-up to last year’s Galaxy Tab 2 models to launch later this year. While we’ve already heard (and seen) a hefty amount of the upcoming Galaxy Note 8.0, rumors of successors to the company’s cheaper Tab line have been few and far between.

The Korean company is reportedly gearing up to release several tablet models, including the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 and the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0. The more robust 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3 is also slated to arrive later this year with LTE. There’s no word on a release date, though we’re bound to hear some news at MWC next month.

Source: SamMobile
Posted by at 6:49 AM

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